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Who should I start or sit for fantasy football in Week 6 of the 2025 season? Andrew's potential fantasy football busts to avoid in Week 6 fantasy football lineups.
Welcome back to the Week 6 edition of your bust alerts. This week, we're going big-name hunting.
Some of the star running backs of yesteryear are losing their value, and a pair of top-10 wide receivers draw a dangerous matchup.
Below, we sort through the stats and find 10 fantasy football busts, or players that may disappoint, for Week 6 of the 2025 NFL season. Good luck, RotoBallers!
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Alvin Kamara (RB, NO) vs. New England
Fantasy managers may pull a Dave Seville when looking at the Saints' box score on Sunday afternoon.
The return of star cornerback Christian Gonzalez has fixed the New England defense. They've been tough to run on, but were beatable through the air. Now that the latter is settled, it's a stout unit all around.
The Patriots currently allow the fourth-fewest rushing yards to the running back position. Every lead back they've faced (Ashton Jeanty, De'Von Achane, Jaylen Warren, Chuba Hubbard, and James Cook) failed to reach 5o yards on the ground. No running back has scored double-digit PPR points on New England in the last two weeks.
Kamara won't exceed that mark either, especially if he continues to lose touches to Kendre Miller. The backup has double-digit carries in each of the last two games, and tallied one more than Kamara in a win over the Giants last week.
Kendre Miller finds an opening for a Saints TD
NOvsBUF on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXnxV pic.twitter.com/g1kSJHyVTO
— NFL (@NFL) September 28, 2025
Jaylen Warren (RB, PIT) vs. Cleveland
Did Kenneth Gainwell's 25-touch, 134-yard, two-touchdown performance before Pittsburgh's bye week earn him more playing time?
That's ✌️ for @KENNETHGAINWEL so far today 💪
📲 Stream on NFL+: https://t.co/szceXBjRdr pic.twitter.com/pUGbgAOKhK
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) September 28, 2025
Think back to Week 1 (I know, it seems like an eternity ago). Gainwell played more snaps than Jaylen Warren (30 to 25). Since then, Warren has taken control of the backfield, but it wouldn't be a shock to see the Steelers revert to their early-season strategy. A touchdown saved what would have easily been Warren's worst fantasy game of the season.
The uncertain division of labor alone isn't enough to deter Warren. The matchup against the Browns has been trouble for running backs all season. They're surrendering the second-fewest fantasy points and rushing yards (trailing only Green Bay, who has already taken their bye) to the position.
More importantly for Warren, who makes his money in the passing game, the Browns have allowed just 86 receiving yards to running backs. Pittsburgh's top running back is outside the top 24 this week.
Michael Carter (RB, ARI) at Indianapolis
Volume will only get a running back so far. After registering just one touch in the first four weeks of the season, Michael Carter was vaulted to the top of the depth chart after injuries to James Conner (ankle) and Trey Benson (knee). And, his play was a reminder of why he was a practice squad player last season and the beginning of this year.
Carter averaged 2.8 yards per carry against a Tennessee front seven that averaged over five yards per carry to opposing running backs before the Arizona matchup. Despite the inefficiency, Carter still turned in a start-worthy fantasy day thanks to five catches and a short touchdown.
Kyler Murray has shown a checkdown tendency this season. Arizona running backs have combined for at least five receptions in every game. That tendency may change if Jacoby Brissett starts Week 6. Murray is questionable with a foot issue.
Cardinals HC Jonathan Gannon said Kyler Murray won’t practice today due to his foot injury, and he’s taking it “day by day.”
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 8, 2025
Plus, the Indianapolis Colts have a far better run defense than the Titans. They're allowing the sixth-fewest fantasy points per game to backfields. The volume may still be there for Carter, but he also brings a dangerously low floor.
Derrick Henry (RB, BAL) vs. Los Angeles Rams
It seems fairly simple at this point: Derrick Henry is good for fantasy football when the Baltimore Ravens are leading. Henry is bad for fantasy football when the Baltimore Ravens are playing from behind.
The latter has been the case for the last 2.5 games, ever since Henry broke a 28-yard touchdown in the first quarter of the Week 3 contest against the Detroit Lions. The offense's scoring is an issue with Lamar Jackson on the sideline, nursing a hamstring injury. The defense is the far bigger concern.
The once-dominant unit is giving up the most points (35.4) and over 400 yards of offense per game. The best players on each level —defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike (neck), linebacker Roquan Smith (hamstring), and safety Kyle Hamilton (groin) —missed Sunday's game. Madubuike is out for the season. Baltimore is fielding the JV team.
Ravens defense after Week 5
- 29th in rushing yards allowed (732)
- 30th in rushing TDs allowed (8)
- 31st in passing yards allowed (1,312)
- 31st in total yards allowed (2,044)
- 32nd in passing TDs allowed (13)
- 32nd in 1st downs allowed (121)
- 32nd in points allowed (177) pic.twitter.com/LBehmxRQH0— Kevin Oestreicher (@koestreicher34) October 8, 2025
The Ravens couldn't slow down Houston last weekend, a team that was previously considered one of the league's worst offenses. The Rams are one of two teams averaging over 400 yards of total offense. Los Angeles is more than a touchdown favorite at the time of this writing.
A meaningless touchdown saved Henry from a truly dismal performance last Sunday. This time around, he'll need to find the endzone against the only defense that hasn't allowed a rushing touchdown to the position.
Garrett Wilson (WR, NYJ) vs. Denver (London)
If there was ever a game where a football fan could truly see the impact Denver Broncos' cornerback Patrick Surtain II makes, this is the one.
Garrett Wilson has 48 targets so far this season. Tight end Mason Taylor is second on the team with 28. Then, running back Breece Hall with 24. Finally, tied for fourth place with former third-string running back Isaiah Davis, is wide receiver Josh Reynolds, with nine. Nine targets! Through five games, there's no other New York wideout with double-digit targets.
Denver moving Surtain to any other Jets' wide receiver would be coaching malpractice. Wilson should expect to see number 2 across from him on every snap.
Wilson has fewer than 10 PPR fantasy points in all of his matchups against Denver in his career. The secondary is just as strong this time around, allowing the fifth fewest fantasy points to the position.
Wilson has scored in the final two minutes of the last two games. It sounds impressive until you remember both of those were blowout losses. Plus, those were in plus matchups for wide receivers. We're on shaky ground already with Justin Fields throwing the football. Against the Broncos, it won't be pretty.
Courtland Sutton (WR, DEN) at New York Jets (London)
On the other side of this matchup is Courtland Sutton vs. Sauce Gardner. The Jets' cornerback is one of the best in the league, but Sutton is playing at such a high level that he should be able to beat him a few times. But it's what's on the other side of the field that's concerning.
Gardner shadows the opposing top receiver, and the rest of his secondary is getting repeatedly beaten. Here are the stats that the second receiver on each team has posted:
| Wide Receiver |
Rec. | Yards | Fantasy Points |
| Calvin Austin III | 4 | 70 | 17 |
| Joshua Palmer | 2 | 47 | 6.7 |
| Emeka Egbuka | 6 | 85 | 14.5 |
| Jaylen Waddle* | 3 | 48 | 7.8 |
| Ryan Flournoy | 6 | 114 | 18.4 |
*Waddle became the WR1 midway through the game after Tyreek Hill's injury
Ryan Flournoy! A guy who had 102 yards all of last season, and just 35 before Week 5, picked up 114 yards while Gardner managed George Pickens. Yes, Pickens scored on a long touchdown but was limited to three targets and made quite the impressive catch over Gardner to secure those six points.
The Broncos have a deep wide receiver room and several capable second options to carry the Denver passing game in London. Troy Franklin or Marvin Mims Jr. could wind up outscoring Denver's top receiver.
Tee Higgins (WR, CIN) at Green Bay
Joe Flacco is here to save the day! Or is he...?
The Jake Browning experiment in Cincinnati lasted 3.5 games, during which he threw eight interceptions and six touchdowns. In an effort to salvage their season before Joe Burrow (toe) returns, the Bengals acquired Flacco from the Cleveland Browns.
The idea of Flacco is a good move for the Bengals' skill position players. Garbage-time touchdowns were the only thing of note that Ja'Marr Chase and Higgins had done in Browning's three starts, but Flacco may not fix the crux of the problem.
Among 32 QBs with 100+ dropbacks this year, Joe Flacco ranks:
- 25th in PFF Passing Grade
- 25th in PFF’s adjusted completion %
- 26th in Fantasy Points Data Suite’s catchable throw %
- 28th in Fantasy Points Data Suite’s turnover worthy throw rate— Dave Ventresca (@FF_Stallion) October 7, 2025
One of the issues for Browning was the protection rate in Cincinnati. It's one of the worst in the league. Cleveland's was only marginally better. Because Flacco is 40 years old and was never a mobile quarterback to begin with, the Browns' offense frequently stalled. He'll be under pressure constantly again with his new team.
I'd rather wait and see how the Flacco experiment plays out before putting Higgins back into starting lineups. Flacco has already played this stout Packers' defense - in Green Bay - and he mustered 142 passing yards with no touchdowns. Chase is the only start-worthy Bengal this weekend.
Kyle Pitts Sr. (TE, ATL) vs. Buffalo (MNF)
The (first) Monday night matchup features the two best defenses against tight ends. The Falcons top the list (4.2 points per game), making Dalton Kincaid a riskier play, but he narrowly escaped the list as Atlanta hasn't played against a tight end inside the top-18 in fantasy scoring.
The Bills' defense is second (5.6 points per game), and has limited Mark Andrews (one catch, five yards), Taylor (one catch, five yards), Juwan Johnson (three catches, 28 yards), and Hunter Henry (two catches, 46 yards).
Pitts' worst two games of the season came when wide receiver Darnell Mooney played an entire game. Pitts averages 15.45 PPR fantasy points when Mooney is inactive or leaves the game early. That number tanks to 7.8 in Mooney's two healthy games.
#Falcons WR Darnell Mooney suffered a hamstring injury yesterday in Atlanta's win, but with the bye coming up, it's likely that he doesn't have to miss any games, sources say.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 29, 2025
Mooney's presence takes Atlanta's offense from a three-man show down to two. Drake London and Bijan Robinson are the only Falcons worth starting this week.
Trevor Lawrence (QB, JAX) vs. Seattle
Trevor Lawrence falls into the "don't chase the points" category for Week 6.
The entire world witnessed his 27-fantasy point comeback against the Kansas City Chiefs in primetime on Monday night. There's no denying how impressive it was, scoring after tripping and all. If it's the first time you've actually watched Lawrence play football this season, you'd think he was finally breaking out.
TREVOR LAWRENCE UNREAL 😱
Go-ahead TD in the final seconds ‼️ pic.twitter.com/qZ75CwU4tZ
— ESPN (@espn) October 7, 2025
In reality, he hasn't been good for the majority of this season. That's the second time in five games he's scored over 20 points. The rest were 12 points or worse.
The Seattle secondary just got tormented by Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but they were missing several key pieces. Cornerback Devon Witherspoon (knee) and safety Julian Love (hamstring) missed the game, while cornerback Riq Woolen (concussion) departed early. Pass rusher Demarcus Lawrence (quadriceps) was also out of the lineup. Getting one or more of those players back will help the Seattle defense return to form.
Opposing quarterbacks averaged 15.5 fantasy points in the first month of the season.
Daniel Jones (QB, IND) vs. Arizona
Daniel Jones' matchup against Arizona seems good on paper. The Cardinals have surrendered the fourth-most passing yards per game.
But we shouldn't like Jones as a pure passer. Week 5 was the first time this season that he tossed more than one touchdown, and it only led to 16.7 fantasy points (QB18). For fantasy football, we need Jones to run the football, something he's actively avoided the last two weeks. He has two total attempts, one of which was a kneel-down.
It may not get better on Sunday, as the Cardinals are one of the best defenses in EPA per rush attempt. They also allow the fifth-fewest fantasy points to the quarterback position.
Indianapolis is also a touchdown favorite in this matchup, and may be playing against a backup quarterback in Brissett. If Jones isn't running, and the Colts are playing with a lead, then there are several other middle-tier quarterbacks I'd rather start this week, such as Matthew Stafford or Mac Jones.
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